Browsing by Author "Rathnayaka, H."

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    Electronic screen device usage and screen time among preschool-attending children in a suburban area of Sri Lanka
    (BioMed Central, London, 2022) Rathnasiri, A.; Rathnayaka, H.; Yasara, N.; Mettananda, S.
    Background: Excessive use of screen devices and screen time are increasing health problems in children. We aim to describe the electronic screen device usage and determine the factors associated with their use among preschool-attending children in a suburban population in Sri Lanka. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a suburban Medical Officer of Health area of Sri Lanka from January to March 2020. All children aged between 36-59 months attending ten randomly selected preschools were recruited. Data were collected using a parent-administered questionnaire and analysed using binary logistic regression in SPSS. The prevalence of electronic device usage, the average time spent on each device, and factors associated with individual device usage were analysed. Results: A total of 340 children (Male-48%; mean age-50.1 ± 6.9 months) were recruited. Electronic devices were used by 96% of children. The most common devices were the television (87%) and the smartphone (63%). Of the children who used electronic devices, 60% exceeded the recommended screen time limit of one hour per day, 21% used devices for more than two hours per day, and 51% commenced using devices by two years of age. The higher education level of the father was independently associated with the use of smartphones and laptops and daily screen time of more than one hour (p < 0.05 for all). Male sex and being the only child were significantly associated with the use of smartphones, whereas maternal employment was associated with the use of laptops (p < 0.05 for all). Conclusions: Electronic screen devices were used by 96% of preschool-attending children, and over 60% used them for more than the recommended daily upper limit of one hour. Higher paternal education, maternal employment and being the only child were significantly associated with electronic screen device use.
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    Use of electronic devices and screen time of pre-school children in Homagama Medical Officer of Health area
    (Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2021) Rathnasiri, G.B.A.M.; Rathnayaka, H.; Yasara ,N.; Mettananda ,S.
    Introduction and objectives Electronic device use and screen time are increasing health problems in children. Here, we aim to describe the use of electronic devices and screen time in preschool children in the Homagama Medical Officer of Health area. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Homagama Medical Officer of Health area from January to March 2020 before the COVID-19 travel restrictions. All children aged between 3-5 years attending ten randomly selected pre-schools were recruited into the study. Data were collected using a parent-administered questionnaire and analysed using logistic regression in SPSS. Ethical approval was obtained from Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians. Results A total of 320 children (Male-48.1%; mean age-50.1±6.9 months) were recruited. Electronic devices were used by 95.6% of children. The use of different devices were; television-86.8%, smartphone- 62.9%, laptop- 15.9%, tablet- 8.2% and desktop-5.6%. Of these children, 20.9% used devices for more than 2 hours, and 18.7% commenced using devices before one year. Higher education level of father was independently associated with use of smartphones [OR-3.3(1.8-6.3); p<0.001] and laptops [OR-6.6(1.7-25.3); p<0.01] and screen time >2 hours [OR-3.1(1.3-7.2); p<0.01]. Male sex [OR-1.7(1.02- 2.8); p<0.05] and being the only child [OR-2.1(1.2-3.6); p<0.01] was associated with use of smartphones whereas maternal employment was associated with use of laptops [OR-2.2(1.07-4.5); p<0.05]. Conclusion Electronic devices were used by over 95% of preschoolers, and over one-fifth used them for more than the recommended upper limit of 2 hours. Higher paternal education, maternal employment and being the only child were significantly associated with electronic device use.